Considerations on Buying an Exercise Bike
June 28th 2009 -
One of the most well-liked fitness exercise machines is the exercise bike but buying one is not as clear-cut as going to the mall and choosing one. There are several things to take into account before you do this. You may want to consider not only the cost, type of bike, whether you prefer a recumbent or upright exercise bike, and how comfortable and easy it is to adjust.
How Much are You Prepared To Spend?
Evidently this is usually the most principal consideration but you shouldn’t go for the cheapest exercise bike on sale as it might not be long lasting, be easy to use or even give you a good workout. A starting bike at the lowest will cost you approximately $200, and although this will be acceptable it will not have many of the features that can be found on costlier training bikes. For not much more, between $350 and $600 you will get a higher quality exercise bike with some features such as heart rate control, magnetic resistance, a comfy seat and typically quiet and smooth operation.
For about $600 you will be able to buy a high-quality exercise bike with all the features you may need. For this cost you should expect plenty of built-in workout programs, simple to use display console, and resistance control, handlebars that are easy to modify and a very good warranty.
Exercise Bike Comfort
Certainly your exercise bike needs to be comfortable as you will be using it for quite long periods. You will want a well padded seat and handlebars that can be adjusted easily. Are you going to purchase an upright or recumbent exercise bike? A lot of people find that recumbent exercise bikes are more comfy to use than upright exercise bikes as you sit in a more reclined position which puts a reduced amount of strain on your back. Upright exercise bikes, although not quite as comfortable, do have the benefit that you can effortlessly increase the intensity of the exercise by standing up to pedal just like you would on a standard bicycle.
Adjusting the Resistance
Exercise bike resistance is changeable in 2 ways. A good number of the lower cost models use a belt and tension, more expensive models use magnetic resistance which is quieter and more consistent. Magnetic resistance is usually adjusted with a knob or a pushbutton. Most people find it easier to use a pushbutton.
Heart Rate Monitors
It is really crucial to be able to keep an eye on your heart rate while training since the aim of the exercise is to increase the heart rate. Always purchase an exercise bike with an integral pulse rate monitor so that you can adjust your training appropriately. Virtually all the exercise bikes do have this though less expensive ones will frequently just have a pulse rate monitor integrated into the handlebars. The high-priced exercise bikes will have workouts that are controlled by your heart rate so they adjust automatically to keep your pulse rate at a level that you fix. This is a very good feature but not crucial if you can’t manage to pay for it.
Integrated Workout Programs
Many of the less expensive exercise bikes do not have exercise included programs. While you may consider this is not too much of a drawback you will find that simply sitting on the bike and riding will grow to be boring very swiftly! With workout programs you can adjust your training and the feedback you get will assist with your enthusiasm. Display consoles that give you feedback on calories burned, distance covered and tour heart rate etc. actually do help your enthusiasm and keep you exercising longer. Nearly all of the exercise bikes in the mid-budget range i.e. between about $300 and $600 will give you a reasonable variety of built-in workouts and a moderately high-quality display. More high-priced exercise bikes i.e. in the $600 and above range will have a very wide range of workouts and excellent console displays with a complete range of feedback information.
Conclusion
Naturally, as with other fitness exercise machines, when buying an exercise bike, you get what you pay for. It is not really a very good idea to buy the cheapest exercise bike you can find as it won’t last very long and you won’t be happy with the workout that you get. It is not essential to buy a very pricey bike but we recommend purchasing one for around $300 which will give you excellent exercise and keep you motivated. Read more at Exercise Bike Tips.